Inclusive Language Substitutions

This rule promotes inclusive language by flagging gendered or outdated terms and suggesting more neutral alternatives. It's designed to make content more welcoming and respectful to all readers by eliminating language that unnecessarily specifies gender or perpetuates dated stereotypes. Using inclusive language helps ensure your content reaches and respects a wider audience while maintaining professional standards.

Examples:

  • Will flag "chairman" and suggest "chair"
  • Will flag "policeman" and suggest "police officer"
  • Will flag "mankind" and suggest "human kind"
  • Will flag "stewardess" and suggest "flight attendant"
  • Will flag "mailman" and suggest "mail carrier"
  • Will flag "alumnus/alumna" and suggest "graduate"
  • Will flag gendered professional terms like "woman scientist" or "lady lawyer" and suggest the gender-neutral versions ("scientist", "lawyer")
  • Will flag "guys" when used as a general greeting and suggest "everyone"

In each case, the rule will generate an error-level message suggesting the more inclusive alternative. The rule is case-insensitive, meaning it will catch these terms regardless of capitalization.

Rule Source

This rule comes from: https://github.com/mesosphere/dcos-docs-site

Rule Definition

---
extends: substitution
message: Consider using '%s' instead of '%s'
ignorecase: true
level: error
swap:
  (?:alumna|alumnus):          graduate
  (?:alumnae|alumni):          graduates
  (?:mother|father)land:       native land
  (?:mother|father)tongue:     native tongue
  air(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):      pilot(s)
  anchor(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   anchor(s)
  authoress:                   author
  business(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n): business person
  camera(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   camera operator(s)
  chair(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):    chair(s)
  congress(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n): member(s) of congress
  door(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):     concierge(s)
  drafts(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   drafter(s)
  fire(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):     firefighter(s)
  fisher(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   fisher(s)
  fresh(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):    first-year student(s)
  garbage(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):  waste collector(s)
  guys:                        everyone
  lady lawyer:                 lawyer
  ladylike:                    courteous
  landlord:                    building manager
  mail(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):     mail carriers
  man and wife:                husband and wife
  man enough:                  strong enough
  mankind:                     human kind
  manpower:                    human resources
  manmade:                     manufactured
  men and girls:               men and women
  middle(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   intermediary
  news(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):     journalist(s)
  ombuds(?:man|woman):         ombuds
  oneupmanship:                upstaging
  poetess:                     poet
  police(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   police officer(s)
  repair(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   technician(s)
  sales(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):    salesperson or sales people
  service(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):  soldier(s)
  steward(?:ess)?:             flight attendant
  tribes(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):   tribe member(s)
  waitress:                    waiter
  woman doctor:                doctor
  woman scientist[s]?:         scientist(s)
  work(?:m[ae]n|wom[ae]n):     worker(s)